An adaptive network has respective network nodes and network connections between the network nodes, the network nodes each having a transceiver which is coupled with a respective network connection. The respective transceiver is designed for providing a mean error value (MSE_i) which is representative of deviations of a received signal from predefined reference signal values. In a reference operating state of the adaptive network, a respective reference error value (MSE_REF) is determined as a function of the mean error value (MSE_i) provided by the respective transceiver. In at least one predefined operating state of the adaptive network, a respective actual error value (MSE_AV) is determined as a function of the mean error value (MSE_i) provided by the respective transceiver. As a function of the respective reference error value (MSE_REF) and the assigned actual error value (MSE_AV), it is determined whether a fault is present in the respective network connection which is coupled with the respective transceiver.